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United States Patent | 5,036,917 |
Jennings, Jr. ,   et al. | August 6, 1991 |
A method for controlling formation fines when producing heavy oil from an unconsolidated sand formation where at least two wells are utilized. Both wells are perforated and hydraulically fractured at a lower interval via a viscous gel fluid having a sized and high temperature resistant proppant therein. The proppant is a size sufficient to filter fines from the oil, thereby keeping the fracture clear. Cyclic steam-flooding and oil production are conducted in one well, while the other is shut-in. This sequence is continued until steam breaks through at the lower interval from a first well into a second well. Afterwards, production packers with knock-out plugs are used to isolate the lower interval of both wells. Cyclic steam injection and oil production are continued in the upper interval of both wells. Subsequently, both wells are shut-in and production strings are directed to the lower formation interval through the knock-out plugs. Steam is then injected down the lower level of both wells and oil is produced from the upper level through the annuli of both wells.
Inventors: | Jennings, Jr.; Alfred R. (Plano, TX); Smith; Roger C. (Dallas, TX) |
Assignee: | Mobil Oil Corporation (Fairfax, VA) |
Appl. No.: | 446833 |
Filed: | December 6, 1989 |
Current U.S. Class: | 166/272.3; 166/271; 166/280.1; 166/297; 166/308.1 |
Intern'l Class: | E21B 043/24; E21B 043/267 |
Field of Search: | 166/280,281,283,303,308,271,272,274,275,263,297 |
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